Empires and Other Political Systems h 155classes were raised as Ottoman rulers became more and more corrupt. The infl ationary
trend that affected Europe as a result of the infl ux of gold and silver in Spain also produced
infl ation within the Ottoman territories. The Ottomans fell behind in warfare technology
because of their reliance on huge weaponry intended for siege tactics. Ignoring the value of
Western technological innovations, the Ottomans also disregarded the growing power of
Western Europe, a policy that hastened its decline.Mughal India
In 1526, Babur, a descendant of Mongols and of Turks, migrated from the steppes of central
Asia to the Indian subcontinent. The founder of the Mughal dynasty had lost his king-
dom in Central Asia; by 1528, he had used his superior gunpowder technology to conquer
a large portion of northern India and had founded a dynasty that would last to the mid-
nineteenth century.
The greatest leader of the Mughal dynasty was Akbar (ruled 1560–1605). Throughout
his reign, he brought more of northern and central India under his control, established a
bureaucracy, and patronized the arts. He encouraged cooperation between Hindus and
Muslims in India.
Akbar also broke with Hindu and Muslim tradition regarding the treatment of women
in society. He encouraged widows to remarry and outlawed sati, the practice among Hindu
elite classes of burning women on their husband’s funeral pyre. Akbar also encouraged
merchants to arrange market days for women only so that those following the practice of
purdah, or confi nement in their homes, would have an opportunity to participate in public
life. By the declining years of the Mughal Empire, however, the improvements in the position
of women had largely been discontinued.
Mughal art and architecture often blended Muslim styles with those of other socie-
ties. Mughal artists were known for their miniatures, some of which included Christian
religious subjects. Mughal architecture blended the white marble typical of Indian archi-
tecture with the arches and domes of the Islamic world. Probably the most well-known
architectural structure of the Mughal era was the Taj Mahal, constructed by Shah Jahan
as a tomb for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
The cost of warfare and defensive efforts to protect the northern borders of the Mughal
Empire contributed to its decline. Later Mughal rulers failed to bridge the differences
between Muslims and Hindus. Centralized government broke down as India returned to
numerous local political organizations. The decline of centralized authority opened doors
for the entrance of foreign powers, especially the British.Monarchies in France and England
In the sixteenth century, European monarchies expanded their power dramatically. Charac-
teristics of these monarchies were:- The maintenance of strong armies
- The establishment of elaborate bureaucracies
- High taxes to support the frequent wars on the European continent
In France, a system of absolute monarchy arose as monarchs stopped convening the
Estates-General, the medieval parliament. In addition to the characteristics of monarchs
listed above, absolute monarchs believed in a concept called the divine right of kings.
Divine right held that monarchs were granted their right to rule by God. Territorial expansionhttp://www.ebook3000.com